Resilient wheel



July 24, 1923.

AL SEQUEIRA RESILIENT WHEEL Filed July 22 1922 4 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 v be! Se ma-,0m

A. SEQUEIRA RESILIENT July 24, 1923.

WHEEL Filed July 22 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 my 24,1923; 1,463,064 A. SEQUEIRA l RESILIENT WHEEL v Filed July 22. 1922 s sheetssheet s 'l a a f 1 l ,I /4 e, jfl' 4 Patented duly 242-, i923.,

narra ABEL sEQUErna, 0E NEW EEDEOED, Mnssiicr-rusnr'rs.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Appiieation flied Juiy 22, 1922. serial Nd. 576,696.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, ABEL SEQUEIRA, la citizen of the Republic of Portugal, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, .have invente-l certain new and useful improvements in Resilient lVhec-ls, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for an object to effect improvements in the method of and means for securing fabric shoe elements such` as are used in pneumatic tires, upon a spring mounting, doing away with the use of vthe inflated inner tube. A further important object of my invention is to improve details of construction of the parts in spring wheels of this type, wheieby they may be readily manufactured and assembled, and whereby they may function efficiently.

A further important aim of the invention is to provide novel details of construction in the mounting of shoe segments upon comf l ing: l

Fig. 3 kis a fragmentary section in the major plane of the wheel, representing one form of spoke, complete,

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner end of another .spoke in the same plane as Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the shoe elements as viewed from the outer side.

Fig. 6 is a similar view at the inner side of the segment.

Figures 7 and 8 are peripheral and elevational views of felly sections.

My wheel construction as shown in Fig. l includes a hub l0, which may be of a construction, similar to that employed in ordinary wooden automoblie wheels; spokes ll being mounted upon the hub by which a tire element l2 and felly 13v are mounted. The felly ring is not secured directly to the spokes, however, as in ordinary wheels, as will appear hereinafter, although the felly has no movement yrelatively to the spoke elements ll. rlChe spokes are all of similar appearance exteriorly, but interiorly,there are two general types involved, one a resilient load carrying structure having that function principally, and alternately of such spokes, there are constructions adapted to .support a load resiliently, and also at the same time transmit torque from the inner part of the wheel to the shoe element for traction,

or otherwise, as necessary. The alternate spoke shells or body elements lfl and l5 areVv distinguished from each other in their butt formation, adjacent the hub, one being formed with broad butt ends as at. 1G, while the other is formed with'the usual tapered butt 17, the ends `of all being fitted to a, cylindrical opening i8 whichvmay fit snugly upon a hub barrel or the like as may be required. rIhe spoke bodies are formed of any suitable material, and may be drawn or otherwise formed as found most expedient.l Preferably, the butt ends have a block of hard wood or other material 19 snugly enclosed therein so that the butt may be clamped between the flanges of a hubin the manner familiar in artillery wheels. The butts are also shown transversely apertured, so that bolts or other fastenings may be engaged therethrough. In one set of spokes, upon a metal washer` 2O set against the block 19,. there are disposed a series of balls 21 each fitted slidably in the spoke, all afr`y ranged longitudinally in close contact, and 9o formed of a resilient material such as rubr ber. At the outer part of each of such spokes there is disposed slidably thereinv a block 22 having a conical opening therethrough with the vlarger end presented toward the hub of the wheel, the -blockresting upon a washer 23 which is supported by a semi-spherical cushion element 24 formedy of half of a ball such asthose 2l, The block 22 is formed with a spherical seat at the outer end receiving the inner sphericalsha-pcd end of a stem 25. Upon each of the stems 25, there are set shoe segments 28 having` ball and socket mounting on the stems. The shoe segment is of a shape to lit snugly against the inner surface of lthe tire shoe 29 when in proper form, and is faced with rubber asat 30 in order to cushion itssup-kry port of the lshoe 29. The segment 28 has a longitudinal channel formed in the outer U0 face and is centrally apertured, receiving a socket member 3l of a metal rib ypiece 32 which is set in the longitudinalchannel of the segment and secured to the segment by bolts 33. The surfaces of the segments 23 are inclined away from the socket member 31 at the inner side, so as to give ample room for oscillation of the segments upon the stems 25. At each end, upon the inner face toward the hub of the wheel, each segment 2S is provided with a thick rubber cushion Y Alternated with the spokes having the balls l 21 therein are spokes in which there are tervals by'transverse yokes 39, which have the form ofthe cross section of a clincher rim in ordinary motor vehicle wheels, so that their ends may be hooked over the bead 38 to hold the beads confined in proper relative relation. rlh'ere are at least two yokes between each two spokes. The felly ring 13 is of a size to lit snugly against the yokes ,'39 butvpermitting free removal and replacement of the shoe 29 ,when the yokes are engaged therewith. Nithin the shoe 29 there is disposed an annular retainer or clamping -ring40, which is provided with openings corresponding in number to the number of spokes, and adapted to be ahncd therewith. Set loosely 1n these openings there are in- `teriorly "threaded sleeves 42, which v,are

[against theedge portions 'of the shoe flanged at their inner ends so that when drawn outwardly the flanges will bear adjacent parts of the ring 4() outwardly and 29 bearing them toward the yokes` 39 so that the shoe will be securely retained. vThe outer ends of the spokes are veirteriorly threaded and arranged to receive the sleeves 42 thereon, the screwing of the sleeves`42 on to the spoke ends serving to clamp the ring 40 securely against the edges of the shoe 29 bearing the same toward' the wheel center, and also compressing the yokes 39 against the felly ring, which is thereby held securely in place and utilized to stiften the outer parts of the wheel, holding the operative parts in proper spaced relation.

To facilitate assembly and to give the wheel a simple and compact appearance when assembled., the sleeves 42 may be made of such length that 'they do not project through thefelly ringgand the latter is made in four parts or more, as desired, one

set at each side, the two sets meeting on` the medial plane of the wheel, (see Figs. 7 and 8) and recessed to receive the sleeves 42 snugly, in such case. The 'felly sections are put in place after assembly of the remainder of the parts. A ring 45 is also provided, at each side, which -is secured to the felly, eX-

tending outwardly therefrom, and being formed with a curved flange 46 which engages outwardly of the ends of the members 39 to retain the latter securely inplace.

ln 'the 'use of the device, the shoe elements 29 will have free universal pivot movement upon the respective spoke mechanisms, so that they ymay vrock freelyk in'all directions, to present the greatest surface against the roadway. ln the event'that severe compres.y

sion of the shoe 29 isl occasioned, as when striking' astone, log, orother obstruction, i-f the force of vengagementis sufficient to compress the shoe 29 beyond the ,predetermined normal limit of action, the cushion 34 will engageupon'the clamp ring 40 cheeking furth'ercompression, jar or damage, as will be readily understood. The *conical opening inthe block 22 and the passage in the hollow stem 25 are preferably filled with a suitable lubricant, such as oil or grease, or any other suitable substance, so that the bearings between the socket members 19 and 31 and the stems 25 will be suitably lubricated. Lubricant is alsopreferably introduced inthe spokes having the springs 35 therein, as required. Therods 36 will serve yto transmit torque of tractionto the tire parts from the-hub and spokes.

In'the-assemblyof the wheel, it is necessary to introduce the ring 4OAand1the-'sleeve 42 assembled therein into the tire shoe 29,

'as'well as the shoe segments 28, which are introduced into the tire shoe outwardly of the ring `40. The yokesf39 lare then applied to the shoe 29. rlhe sleeves 42 are then thrust inwardly and the spokes'severally and respectively engaged therewith and then adjusted in the positionshown in Fig. 1. After this they may be clamped in the hub in the usual manner'and securelybolted'as `required. T he sleeves 42 may be then operated to securely clamp the ring 40 andlalso to center the ring 40 with respect to the hub so as to bring all ofthe parts into proper concentric relation. The fellyring lis then applied, and the ring45 secured as above de# scribed.

It will be seen't-hat'a wheel'ofv comparatively simple construction is provided adapted to function andfmaintain a tire shoe v29 in proper form and cushion shocks sustained thereby without requiringthe use of a pneumatic tube, and which is adapted to ready manufacture assemblageand replacement of parts.

Nh at is claimedtv v 1. In a wheel of the character described,

llO

an exteriorly threaded spoke' tube, a felly element, mean-s to engage laterally out,- Wardly of `the edges of tire shoes of the-general character indicated, an interiorly threaded sleeve adapted to screw uponkthe spoke tube and enlarged at its outer part, and a shoe retaining memberapertured and receiving the sleeve therein for confinementy by the enlargement, and resilient shoe load sustaining means operative on the spokes.

2. In a Wheel of the character indicated, a spoke tube, a resilient element therein a semi-spherical bearing member supported thereby, a shoe segment having a. correfacing, and having stop cushions at the inner part at opposite sides of the socket, and a member iiXed with respect to the Wheel axis disposed to be engaged by the stopzo` cushions When the segment is compressed beyond the normal maximum.

In testimony whereof I haveaixed my signature in presence-of tWo Witnesses. y

, ABEL SEQUEIRA. `llVitnesses:

` `ALFRED J. TAoismoo, y f WILLIAM l\{[URBAY. 

